The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-06-17
HIS FIRST FRENCH BREAKFAST.
A Correspondents Struggles with the
Tongue of tho Gauls.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence.
......... PARIS. May e.
"Dejeuner un franc Is centimes" Sign
over doorway, Rue St Denis. Second
morning in Paris. Referring to guide hook
found it meant breakfast for one franc
fifteen centimes." Concluded to dejeune
Went in. Met lady behind sort of pulpit
Lady talked to me. Couldn't make her out
Shook my head. Hung out foreign flag.
Lady pointed upstairs. Place for breakfast.
Didn't want to 60 Couldn't make any ex-
cuse to get out. Had to go up because had
no language to make an excuse in to get out.
Found long table and forty Frenchmen at it.
Don't think all American ever stayed i'll there
before. Waiter put ME Oh a seat.
No written bill of fare. Verbal Waiter
did the verb business in French Poured it
into me- Couldn't make out a word Waiter
waited. Looked at him helplessy. Waiter
dill it all over again Caught at last at
word, marengo. "Oui," | said; "lnarengo.
Bon! Bring marcngo" Waiter started after
marengo. Wondered what it would be-fish,
flesh, foul-or soup. Turned out some sort of
meat plentifuily spiced and plentifully
grayied. Made it last as long as l could.
Dreaded that waiter and his verbal bill of
fare. Waiter darted on my plate Bore it
away before meant he should. Gabbled at
me again. Heard welcome sound "Pomme
de terre. Potatoes" Called out: aOui,
mongshure We, madame; portray vous pota-
toes-I mean pom day tur. We, We"
Found forty Frenchmen at table all
looking at me and trying not to
smile. Polite nation Very Never laugh
i'll your face. Perpetual laugh inside. See
points very quick. Conceited lot, though.
Think Paris the center OF universe. Nothing
but sand lots and savages outside Waiter
brought potatoes, stewed with more gravy.
Very good. Made 'em last as long as posi-
ble Felt very uncomfortable. Knew |
wasn't ordering breakfast ship shnpe and
nl.,l fashion after French style. Should have
commenced with a slice of sausage thin
as wafer and sprg of cress.
Make that last half an hour. One
Connecticut river Yankee can swallow
half a French breakfast at one mouthful.
Potato eaten up. Waiter came again. More
gabble Fired back in East Haddam French.
Asked waiter to repeat his observation. Had
him there Got even. Couldn't understand
me. Gauls at table startled. Unknown
tongue to them. Caught at another word in
walters torrent of unintelligibility. Fromage!
Cheese What kind? Twenty different kinds
of cheese in France. Hard cheese, soft
cheese. sage cheese, goats cheese, cheesy
cheese, green cheese and cheese that runs like
moasses when yon bust its upper crust.
Cheese and spoonful of jam. Dessert, ex-
pected to be twenty minutes finishing that,
according to Partisan meal regulations. Did
it in two minutes, New York ten cent restau-
rant style. Got up to leave. Could not find
my way out. Waiter led me down stairs.
Found the lady behind the pulpit at door.
Rakes in the cash. Paid her. Twenty-Five
cents for half bottle of wine, as much bread
as could eat, maringot, potatoes and cheese.
Could have had more il I'd talked Frenchy
French Bread in Paris at restaurant table
put on by the loaf. Not in scant giblets as
with us, who raise bread for the world.
p M